Thrust reverser

ABSTRACT

A thrust reverser comprises a cylindrical casing having an apertured portion; a plurality of thrust reverser members which are mounted within the casing and are movable between a thrust reversal position, in which they block the casing to fluid flow therethrough and force the fluid to pass out through the said apertured portion, and a forward thrust position in which they permit the fluid to flow through the casing but block a part only of the apertured portion; a plurality of additional members which are disposed within the casing and are movable between a forward thrust position, in which they block at least most of the remaining part of the apertured portion, and a thrust reversal position, in which they permit the fluid to pass out through the apertured portion; a sleeve member which is movable over the casing between forward thrust and thrust reversal positions in which the apertured portion is respectively closed and opened to fluid flow therethrough; interconnecting means which interconnect the thrust reverser members, the additional members and the sleeve member so that the movement of all these members between their thrust reversal and forward thrust positions occurs simultaneously; and power-operated means for effecting the movement of the said members.

United States Patent James Oswald Mortlock Derby;

Francis Jeffrey Colville, Sutton-in-AshfieId; James Millward, Nuthall,England [72] Inventors 3,380,662 4/ 1968 Miller 3,511,055 5/1970 TimmsPrimary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, .lr Assistant Examiner-Edwin D. GrantAttorney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman ABSTRACT: A thrust reverser comprisesa cylindrical casing having an apertured portion; a plurality of thrustreverser members which are mounted within the casing and are movablebetween a thrust reversal position, in which they block the casing tofluid flow therethrough and force the fluid to pass out through the saidapertured portion, and a forward thrust position in which they permitthe fluid to flow through the casing but block a part only of theapertured portion; a plurality of additional members which are disposedwithin the casing and are movable between a forward thrust position, inwhichthey block at least most of the remaining part of the aperturedportion, and a thrust reversal position, in which they permit the fluidto pass out through the apertured portion; a sleeve member which ismovable over the casing between forward thrust and thrust reversalpositions in which the apertured portion is respectively closed andopened to fluid flow therethrough; interconnecting means whichinterconnect the thrust reverser members, the additional members and thesleeve member so that the movement of all these members between theirthrust reversal and forward thrust positions occurs simultaneously; andpower-operated means for effecting the movement of the said members.

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According to the present invention, there is provided a thrust reversercomprising a cylindrical casing having an apertured portion; a pluralityof thrust reverser members which are mounted within the casing and aremovable between a thrust reversal position, in which they block the'casing to fluid flow therethrough and force the fluid to pass outthrough the said apertured portion, and a forward thrust position inwhich they permit the fluid to flow through the casing but block a partonly of the apertured portion; a plurality of additional mem bers whichare disposed within the casing and are movable between a forward thrustposition, in which they block at least most of the remaining part of theapertured portion, and a thrust reversal position, in which they permitthe fluid to pass out through theapertured portion; a sleeve memberwhich is movable over the casing between forward thrust and thrustreversal positions in which the apertured portion is respectively closedand opened to fluid flow therethrough; interconnecting means whichinterconnect the thrust reverser members, the additional members and thesleeve member so that the movement of all the members between theirthrust reversal and forward thrust positions occurs simultaneously; andpower operated means for effecting the movement of the said members.

The sleeve member is preferably movable axially of the casing. Moreover,the power-operated means is preferably connected to the sleeve iriember,the movement of the latter causing movement of the thrust reverser andadditional members by way of the interconnecting means.

Each of the thrust reverser and, additional members is preferably a flapmember.

An assembly of guide vanes is preferably mounted in the aperturedportion to direct the fluid forwardly when the said members are in thethrust reversal position.

The casing may have upstream and downstream portions which are disposedon opposite sides of the apertured portion and are interconnected by aplurality of angularly spaced apart, axially extending, beams whichcarry the said guide vanes, each of the thrust reverser members beinginterconnected to the sleeve member by a link which passes through aslot in a said beam or between adjacent beams.

Each additional member may be pivotally interconnected to at least onerespective thrust reverser member.

Each thrust reverser member may have leading and trailing parts whichare pivotally interconnected, the said leading and trailing parts beingfolded against each other in the thrust reversal position and beingsubstantially coplanar in the forward thrust position.

Thus, in the forward thrust position, there may be gaps between theadjacent leading parts and gaps between the adjacent trailing parts ofadjacent thrust reverser members, each additional member overlapping thesaid adjacent parts so as to cover most of the respective gap.

Alternatively, there may be a pair of pivotally intercon nectedadditional members between the adjacent leading parts and the adjacenttrailing parts of adjacent thrust reverser members.

The arrangement may be such that, in the forward thrust position, thethrust reverser members block the downstream part only of the aperturedportion while the additional members block the upstream part onlythereof.

The invention also comprises a gas turbine engine having a thrustreverser as set forth above. Thus, the engine may be a front fan engine,the thrust reverser being adapted to effect reversal of the fan air.

The invention is illustrated, merely by way of example, in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a broken-away sectional view of a gas turbine fan engineprovided with a thrust reverser in accordance with the presentinvention; r

FIG. 2 is a plan view of flap members forming part of the said thrustreverser, the view being taken in the direction of the arrow 2 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating a modiflca tion;

FIG. 4 is an extended view showing the flap members of FIG. 3 in aposition intermediate their reversal and forward thrust positions;

FIG. 5 is a broken-away sectional view of part of a gas turbine fanengine provided with another trust reverser in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a broken-away sectional view taken on the line 6.- 6 of FIG.5; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing part of the structureof FIG. 5, but with some portions thereof omitted in order to simplifythe drawing.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a gas turbine frontfan engine 10 has an inner casing 11 within which there are mounted, inflow series, the compressor means, combustion equipment, and turbinemeans of the engine, none of which are shown in the drawings. The innercasing 11 is mounted concentrically within a cylindrical outer casing(or pod) 12 by means of a plurality of angularly spaced apartaerofoil-shaped struts 13. Mounted 'at the front of the engine 10 is afan 14 which is driven from the main shaft (not shown) of the engine,the fan 14 directing fan air through an annular fan duct 15 which isdefined between the casings 11, 12.

The outer casing 12 has an upstream portion 20 and a downstream portion21 which are disposed on opposite sides of an apertured portion 22 andare interconnected by a plurality of angularly spaced apart axiallyextending beams 23. Mounted in the apertured portion 22 is an assemblyof guide vanes 24 which are carried by the beams 23 and which, duringreverse thrust, direct the fan air from the duct 15 forwardly.

Mounted within the outer casing 12 are a plurality of angularly spacedapart thrust reverser flap members 25. The thrust reverser members 25are movable between a thrust reversal position, which is indicated indottedlines in FIG. 1, and in which they block the fan duct 15 to flowtherethrough and force the fan air to pass out through the aperturedportion 22, and a forward thrust position, which is shown in full linesin FIG. 1, and in which they permit the fan air to flow through the fanduct 15 but block the major part (but not the whole) of the aperturedportion 22.

As will be seen from FIG. 2, each of the thrust reverser flap members 25has a leading part 26 and a trailing part 27 which are pivotallyinterconnected at a hinge 30. The trailing edge of each of the trailingparts 27 is mounted! on pivots 31 carried by the downstream portion 21of the outer casing 12. The leading edge of the leading part 26 of eachof the thrust reverser flap members 25 is connected at pivots 32 to alink 33 which extends radially inwardly from a sleeve :member 34, andwhich extends through a slot (not shown) in a respective beam 23 or,alternatively, passes between closely adjacent beams 23. The sleevemember 34 is movable axially of the outer casing 12 by means ofhydraulic or pneumatic rams 35 (only one shown), the rams 35 beingconnected to the links 33, and hence to the sleeve member 34, by way ofrods 36.

The rams 35 may be actuated to move the sleeve member 34 over the outercasing 12 between forward thrust and thrust reversal positions which areshown in FIG. 1 in full lines and dotted lines respectively, arid inwhich, respectively, the apertured portion 22 is closed and opened tothe flow therethrough of the fan air.

As will be seen from FIG. 2, each of the leading and trailing parts 26,27 of the flap reverser thrust members 25 is trapezoidal in shape havingsides 37 which converge towards the respective hinge 30. The arrangementis such that, in the forward thrust position, the parts 26, 27 aresubstantially coplanar, but that, in the thrust reversal position, theparts 26, 27 may be folded against each other in such a way that theedges 37 of adjacent thrust reversal flap members 25 abut each other.There are thus gaps 40 between the adjacent lead ing parts 26 ofadjacent thrust reverser members 25 and gaps 41 between the adjacenttrailing parts 27 of adjacent thrust reverser members 25. As will beappreciated, it is desirable to be able substantially to close thesegaps 40, 41 in the forward thrust position in order to prevent pressurelosses and turbulence in the fan duct 15.

In order to achieve this, a substantially triangular additional flapmember, or fillet, 42 is mounted within the outer casing 12 and on apivot 32 on which adjacent leading parts 26 are mounted, the additionalflap member 42 overlapping the said adjacent parts 26 so as to covermost of the respective gap 40 in the forward thrust position.

Similarly, an additional flap member 43 is mounted within the outercasing 12 and on a pivot 31 on which two adjacent trailing parts 27 aremounted, in such a way as to overlap the trailing parts 27 so as tocover most of the respective gap 41 in the forward thrust position. Theadditional flap members 42, 43 are, of course, moved by the rams 35 inunison with the movement of the respective thrust reverser members 25.

When the parts are disposed in the forward thrust position, shown infull lines in FIG. 1, the sleeve member 34 is so disposed as to closethe apertured portion 22 to flow therethrough of the fan air, the thrustreverser flap members 25 have their parts 26, 27 substantially coplanarand in a position such that they block a part only of the aperturedportion 22, while the additional flap members 42, 43 block most of theremaining part of the apertured portion 22, leaving a small space 44between axially aligned additional flap members 42, 43 in order topermit the required pivotal movement of the thrust reverser flap members25 about their hinges 36). This gap 44 is, of course, shown in FIG. 2 ina somewhat exaggerated form.

When, however, it is desired to effect thrust reversal of the fan air,the rams 35 are actuated to move the sleeve member 34 axially downstreamto the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. ll. When this occurs, theinterconnection between the sleeve member 34 and the thrust reversermembers 25 which is provided by the links 33, and the interconnectionbetween the thrust reverser members 25 and the additional flap members42, 43 which is provided at the hinges 31, 32, will ensure that themovement of the sleeve member 34 causes simultaneous movement of thethrust reverser flap members 25 and of the additional flap members 42,43. In this thrust reversal position, the parts 26, 27 will be foldedagainst each other with the additional flap members 42, 43 sandwichedtherebetween. The thrust reverser flap members 25 will thus block thefan duct and force the fan air out through the apertured portion 22, theguide vanes 24 directing this fan air forwardly. In this thrust reversalposition, the additional flap members 42, 43 will of course be in aposition such as not to hinder the flow of fan air out through theapertured portion 22.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, there is illustrated a modification of theconstruction which has been described above with reference to FIGS. 1and 2. In the construction of FIGS. 3 and 4, the thrust reverser members25 are formed and mounted in exactly the same way as in the constructionof FIGS. 1 and 2. Instead, however, of providing the additional flapmembers 42, 43, a pair of additional flap members 45 are providedbetween the adjacent leading parts 26 of adjacent thrust members 25,while a pair of additional flap members 46 are provided between adjacenttrailing parts 27 .of adjacent thrust reverser members 25. Each of theadditional flap members 45 is pivotally connected (by a piano-wirehinge) to its respective leading part 26 along the edge 37 of thelatter, while each of the additional flap members 45 is also pivotallyconnected to the other additional flap members of the pair along theircommon edge 47. Similarly, each of the additional flap members 46 ispivotally connected to its respective trailing part 27 along the edge 37of the latter, whilst each of the additional flap members 46 ispivotally connected to the other additional flap member of the pairalong their common edge 50. The additional flap members 45 are not,however, connected to the flap members 46 even though they abut thelatter at a common edge 51.

Thus in the course of folding the thrust reverser members 25 between theforward thrust and the thrust reversal positions, the parts assume theshape shown in FIG. 4 in which the additional flap members 45 are foldedagainst each other so as to extend from the leading parts 26 in anupstream direction, while the additional flap members 46 are foldedagainst each other so as to extend from the trailing parts 27 in adownstream direction.

Thus, in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the additional flap members45, 46, in the forward thrust position, block the whole of the aperturedportion 22 which is left unblocked by the thrust reverser flap members25.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the upstreamportion 20 of the casing 12 is interconnected to the downstream portion21 thereof by a plurality of angularly spaced apart axially extendingbeams 52 having an axially extending slot 53 (FIG. 7) through each ofthem. The sleeve member 34 (which is not shown in FIG. 7 in order tosimplify the drawing) is interconnected by links 54 to a plurality ofangularly spaced apart flap reverser members 55 each of which ispivotally mounted in the downstream portion 21 of the casing 12 on ahinge 56, the links 54 passing through the slots 53. Thus, as the sleevemember 34 is moved axially by the rams, the links 54 will move axiallythrough the slots 53 so as to cause pivotal movement of the thrustreverser flap members 55 between a thrust reversal position, which isshown in dotted lines in FIG. 5, and a forward thrust position in whichthe thrust reverser flap members 55 extend axially.

Each of the beams 52 is provided with slots 60 through which extends apin 61 which is connected to the respective link 54 by an intermediatelink 62. Each end of each pin 61 has an arm 63 which is pivotallyconnected thereto and is also pivotally connected to one of a pair ofadditional flap members 64 which are mounted on a common hinge 65 at theradially inner end of a respective beam 52. Thus, as the link 54 ismoved axially through the slot 53, the flaps 64 are moved between aforward thrust position, in which they extend circumferentially and abuteach other in the circumferential direction so as to block the upstreampart of the apertured portion 22, and a thrust reversal position, inwhich they extend radially and lie alongside each other, so as not tohinder the flow of fan air out through the apertured portion 22.

Thus the arrangement of FIGS. 5 to 7 is such that, in the forward thrustposition, the thrust reverser members 55 block the downstream part onlyof the apertured portion 22, while the additional flap members 64 blockthe upstream part only thereof.

In the construction of FIGS. 5 to 7, moreover, guide vanes 66 areemployed which have a short cord so as to provide room for the slots 60.As will be appreciated a number of the guide vanes 66 has been omittedfrom FIG. 7 in order to simplify the drawing.

As will be appreciated, in all the embodiments of the invention theradial distance between the casings ll, 12 is very much smaller than theaxial distance between the parts 20, 21 of the casing 12. Thus, forexample, the latter dimension may be nearly three times as great as theformer. The construction of the various flap members, however, is suchas to cater for this difference in the two dimensions.

We claim:

1. A thrust reverser comprising a cylindrical casing having an aperturedportion; a plurality of thrust reverser members which are mounted withinthe casing and are movable between a thrust reversal position, in whichthey block the casing to fluid flow therethrough and force the fluid topass out through the said apertured portion, and a forward thrustposition in which they permit the fluid to flow through the casing butblock a part only of the apertured portion; a plurality of additionalmembers which are disposed within the casing and are movable between aforward thrust position, in which they block at least one of theremaining part of the apertured portion, and a thrust reversal position,in which they permit the fluid to pass out through the aperturedportion; a sleeve member which is movable over the casing betweenforward thrust and thrust reversal positions in which the aperturedportion is respectively closed and opened to fluid flow therethrough;interconnecting means which interconnect the thrust reverser members,the additional members and the sleeve member so that the movement of allthese members between their thrust reversal and forward thrust positionsoccurs simultaneously; and power operated means for effecting themovement of the said members.

2. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 1 in which the sleeve member ismovable axially of the casing.

3. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 2 in which the power operatedmeans is connected to the sleeve member, the movement of the lattercausing movement of the thrust reverser and additional members-by way ofthe interconnecting means.

4. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 3 in which each of the thrustreverser and additional members is a flap member.

5. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 4 in which an assembly of guidevanes is mounted in the apertured portion to direct the fluid forwardlywhen the said members are in the thrust reversal position.

6. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 5 in which the easing hasupstream and downstream portions which are disposed on opposite sides ofthe apertured portion and are interconnected by a plurality of angularlyspaced apart axially extending beams which carry the said guide vanes,each of the thrust reverser members being interconnected to the sleevemembers by a link which passes through a slot in a said beam or betweenadjacent beams.

7. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 1 in which each additionalmember is pivotally interconnected to at least one respective thrustreverser member.

8. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 7 in which each thrust reversermember has leading and trailing parts which are pivotallyinterconnected, the said leading and trailing parts being folded againsteach other in the thrust reversal position and being substantiallycoplanar in the forward thrust positron.

9. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 8 in which, in the forwardthrust position, there are gaps between the adjacent leading parts andgaps between the adjacent trailing parts of adjacent thrust reversermembers, each additional member overlapping the said adjacent parts soas to cover most of the respective gap.

10. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 8 in which there are a pair ofpivotally interconnected additional members between the adjacent leadingparts and the adjacent trailing parts of adjacent thrust reversermembers.

11. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 1 in which, in the forwardthrust position, the thrust reverser members block the downstream partonly of the apertured portion, while the additional members block theupstream part only thereof.

1. A thrust reverser comprising a cylindrical casing having an aperturedportion; a plurality of thrust reverser members which are mounted withinthe casing and are movable between a thrust reversal position, in whichthey block the casing to fluid flow therethrough and force the fluid topass out through the said apertured portion, and a forward thrustposition in which they permit the fluid to flow through the casing butblock a part only of the apertured portion; a plurality of additionalmembers which are disposed within the casing and are movable between aforward thrust position, in which they block at least one of theremaining part of the apertured portion, and a thrust reversal position,in which they permit the fluid to pass out through the aperturedportion; a sleeve member which is movable over the casing betweenforward thrust and thrust reversal positions in which the aperturedportion is respectively closed and opened to fluid flow therethrough;interconnecting means which interconnect the thrust reverser members,the additional members and the sleeve member so that the movement of allthese members between their thrust reversal and forward thrust positionsoccurs simultaneously; and power operated means for effecting themovement of the said members.
 2. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 1in which the sleeve member is movable axially of the casing.
 3. A thrustreverser as claimed in claim 2 in which the power operated means isconnected to the sleeve member, the movement of the latter causingmovement of the thrust reverser and additional members by way of theinterconnecting means.
 4. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 3 inwhich each of the thrust reverser and additional members is a flapmember.
 5. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 4 in which an assemblyof guide vanes is mounted in the apertured portion to direct the fluidforwardly when the said members are in the thrust reversal position. 6.A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 5 in which the casing has upstreamand downstream portions which are disposed on opposite sides of theapertured portion and are interconnected by a plurality of angularlyspaced apart axially extending beams which carry the said guide vanes,each of the thrust reverser members being interconnected to the sleevemembers by a link which passes through a slot In a said beam or betweenadjacent beams.
 7. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 1 in which eachadditional member is pivotally interconnected to at least one respectivethrust reverser member.
 8. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 7 inwhich each thrust reverser member has leading and trailing parts whichare pivotally interconnected, the said leading and trailing parts beingfolded against each other in the thrust reversal position and beingsubstantially coplanar in the forward thrust position.
 9. A thrustreverser as claimed in claim 8 in which, in the forward thrust position,there are gaps between the adjacent leading parts and gaps between theadjacent trailing parts of adjacent thrust reverser members, eachadditional member overlapping the said adjacent parts so as to covermost of the respective gap.
 10. A thrust reverser as claimed in claim 8in which there are a pair of pivotally interconnected additional membersbetween the adjacent leading parts and the adjacent trailing parts ofadjacent thrust reverser members.
 11. A thrust reverser as claimed inclaim 1 in which, in the forward thrust position, the thrust reversermembers block the downstream part only of the apertured portion, whilethe additional members block the upstream part only thereof.